Ignition device



july 29., 1924 .1. H. REED IGNITION DEVICE Filed Nov. a, 1921 1 NVENTK`l l n I ATTDRIIEY atented July 29, y1924.

urED s'rA'rEs `1,502,682 PATENT OFFICE.

com? H. anni), or MAUMEE, OHIO, AssIoNon. or ONE-HALF 'ro EM swan/rz, or

TOLEDO, Omo.

IGNITION DEVCE.

Application lcd November 8, 1921. Serial No. 512,994.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN zen of the United States of America, residingat Maumee, Lucas County, Ohio, have erinvented new and useful IgnitionDevices,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a voltage change device and high tensioninsulation.

This invention has utility when incorporated as lan ignition intensifierfor jump sparks, as in internal combustion motors.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of a motor vehicle with which an embodimentof, the device is assembled;

Fig. 2 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale of the device; and

Fig. 3 isa medialv longitudinal section through the device.

Motor vehicle 1 is shown as propelled by internal combustion motor 2,and as provided with an ignition system including an induction coil 3and a distributer head 4. Metal strap 5 is clamped about the coil 3 bybolt 6. This strap 5 thus forms a bracket and by means of bolt 7 anchorsthe ignition intensifier in assembled relation.

. Hush position with The intensifier embodies an elongated glass chamber8 having leads 9 spaced apart to form a ap 10. The leads 9 are sealedinto this tu e and the air exhausted therefrom, thereby to provide thisas a vacuum tube element of the device. A cylindrical housing or jacketinsulation memberll of considerably greater diameter than the tube 8, isprovided with a cap 12 having threaded engagement 13 with said cylinder11. This cap 12 is provided with a central opening 14 into which a lead9 may extend to be held centrally. A second cap 12 is placed upon theopposite end of the shell or cylinder 11. Filler or packing, say in theform of a plastie insulation composition may then be poured throughupper concentric Opening 14. As this filler 15 sets, the vacuum tube 8is anchored centrally of this housing. Before the ller hardens, theupper lead 9, which has been in the hole 14 while the packiiig-15 wasbeing poured in, is pulled up slightly, just so as not to come quite upto the outer face of the cap 12. This upward ull, lifts the vacuum tube8 and with it t e lower lead 9, so that this lower lead 9 which had beenresting down flush with the outer face of the lower H. REED, a citisideof the cap 12 is now sli htly inward therefrom. A sealing, as of so der16, closes these perforations 14 of the caps 12, not only to seal theplastic filler 15 therein, but asoonductor means in communication withthe respective leads 9 to establish electric conductor communicationfrom within the tube 8 to the flush outer faces of'metallic conductorcaps 12. This feature of stopping the leads short of the cartridgelength, precludesdisturbance of the leads 9 which might tend to fracturethe tube 8.

The cartridge as thus completed is ready for assembly in a secondinsulation housing, as further high tension protectionfftherefor. Tothis end there is provided an insulation cylinder 17 having a centralgroove 18 receiving the bracket strap 5 as clamped by the bolt 7. Thiscylinder 17, as of hard rubber, is provided with threaded ends 19, upon.which exteriorly threaded portions iiisulation caps 2O may be threaded.These caps 20 may also be of hard rubber.

Concentric opening 21 permits terminal providing screw 22 to have itshead on the inner side of the cap 20 and to protrude outward and belocked in position by nut 23. Supplemental terminal nut 24: completesthe device as an ignition intensier unit. The cartridge carrying thevacuum tube, is readily assembled in the hard rubber insulator outerhousing by taking off one cap 20, inserting the cartridge in thecylinder 17 to have a cap 12 abut a screw 22. The detached cap 20 isthen assembled on the open end of the cylinder 17, thereby bringing thesecond terminal screw 22 against the cartridge other end conductor cap12.

Line 25 from terminal 26 on the induction coil 3, instead of extendingdirectly to the distributor head 4, is now taken to a terminal 22 andassembled therewith by the nut 24. The other terminal 22 is thenconnected up by conductor line 27 to the distributer head 4.2

The dual insulation contributes materially to the practicability andpermanency of the device as an ignition intensifier under the conditionsmet in motor vehicle operation. The cartridge houses the fragile sparkgap vacuum tube and maintains conductivity with the leads. The outerhousing of the cylinder 17 and caps 20, affords a substantial housingand insulation for good oontact terminal connection with the cartridgewith' remote possibility of any leakage or jumping between, suchterminals, even exteriorl of this abrupt shoulder cap structure o thisouter housing. y g

The ap is uniform in its action at all times. t is in a vacuum and isnot susceptible to weather disturbance. The step up, due to thiscondenser action of the ap, is uniform .in its breaking down to a ow theincreased voltage with minimum of static-leakage. The voltage increasefor in creasing the heat of the spark in the motor, 1s near the coil.The utility of the gap as one for the several sets of spark plugs inamulticylinder motor, demands a high rate of action. This is met byestablishing the vacuum gap t0 approximate a minimum distance consistentwith non-arcing. A spacing within one thirty-second of an inch has -beenfound meeting the operating conditions for this vacuum spark gapignition intensifier.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is: y ,x

1. An ignition intensifier includingv a vacuum tube, a pair of leadsspaced to form a ga insaid tube, an insulation packing for the tube andleads therefrom, and conductor means extending flush beyond the y adoubling of the pressure from` .ends of the leads and carried lng.

2. An ignition intensifier including0 a vacuum tube, a pair of leadsextending m the tube and providing a spark gap within the tube, aninsulation cylinder housing for the tube and spaced therefrom, aninsulation Eller packing for the housing to ancho r the tube therein,perforate caps for the cylinder housin and conductor providing ,nsealing means orthe cap perforations in communication with said leads.

3. An i nition intensifier includ' a vacuum tul a ir of leads exten ingfrom the tube an providing a spark gap within` the tube, an insulationcylinder '45 housing the tube, insulation filler packing the tube in thecylinder with concentric terminally protruding conductor leads,conductor caps for the cylinder having central openings, saidl leadsfrom the tube aspro- 50 trudm from the packing being shorty of protruing from said openings, and conductor providing sealing means for theopenings anchorin said eads in conductor communication wit said caps.

In witness whereof I' aiiix my signature.

JOHN H. REED.

